2026 IRONMAN World Championship Returns to Hawaiian Roots
April 30, 2025
2026 IRONMAN World Championship Returns to Hawaiian Roots with Kona as Exclusive Location of Reimagined Single Day Race
-- Extensive community feedback shows unequivocally that women and men want to race the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai`i, together as one `Ohana --
IRONMAN, in collaboration with local and state officials in Hawai`i, announced today that beginning in 2026 the IRONMAN® World Championship, the pinnacle event of triathlon, will return to its roots of Hawai`i, with Kona exclusively hosting men and women racing together on the same day. The 2026 event will take place on October 10, 2026 and welcome the most competitive and committed triathletes in the world to compete at the highest level and challenge themselves on the most iconic course in the sport of triathlon. Innovations in the one-day event format will include enhanced and equal broadcast coverage for women and men, new start times that promote fair competition across both races, and other advancements to elevate the race experience for all athletes.
Extensive research and community feedback across all groups of athletes showed a resounding shared sentiment - The IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona holds a special place in the hearts of IRONMAN athletes, and is the definitive location for both female and male athletes to come together with their family, friends, partners, coaches, fans, and global community as one `Ohana.
“We understand the importance of the IRONMAN World Championship, both its history and legacy in the sport of triathlon as well as what it means for the future of our sport and to our community. Over the past year, we have listened to our community, engaged thousands of athletes from around the world, and learned a great deal about what our athletes aspire to, what they need and want, and ultimately how we can evolve the IRONMAN World Championship to best serve our athletes and the future growth of the sport, said IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue. “When it comes to the most important race on the triathlon calendar, we owe it to our community to listen to their feedback, to have the courage to try new things, and to make principled decisions that serve the long-term interests of the sport. While there is no shortage of ideas when it comes to the future of the IRONMAN World Championship, one thing is clear: a significant majority of women and men want the same two things – to race together, and do that at the beating heart of our sport in Kona, Hawai`i.”
“Kona has always been the heart and soul of the IRONMAN World Championship, and we are excited to see this iconic event return to its roots in 2026,” said County of Hawai`i Mayor Kimo Alameda. “We want to thank IRONMAN for the diligence that went into making this decision, which honors the wishes of the Kona community and athletes. This championship is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of athletic excellence and unity, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen the bond between Hawaii Island and the global IRONMAN `ohana.”
Based on recent feedback and data collected, two things are clear:
First, a significant majority of women and men, across all age groups, want the same two things – to race together, and to race at the beating heart of our sport in Kona. When asked to rank potential World Championship formats, scenarios that did not include Kona polled lowest, including a “globally rotating two-day event.” Importantly, this was true regardless of age or gender, or when considering a single or two-day format for locations other than Kona.
Second, the two-day format did not lead to increased participation among women. Splitting the IRONMAN World Championship race across two days has not inspired more women to enter the sport or increase the frequency of racing among women. Unexpectedly, this format actually resulted in more athletes leaving the sport after completing the IRONMAN World Championship – which for many women and men is the pinnacle of their career in the sport of triathlon.
For more information, please visit www.ironman.com/news/2026-world-championship-announcement. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and global series of events, please visit www.ironman.com.
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About the IRONMAN World Championship
On February 18, 1978, 15 competitors came to the shores of Waikiki, Hawai`i to take on the first-ever IRONMAN. It was an idea hatched by John Collins, a Naval Officer stationed in Hawai`i, and his wife Judy during a swim club gathering. Collins' proposal was a friendly test of fitness combining the three toughest endurance races on Oahu into one race: The 2.4-mile Waikiki Rough-water Swim, the 112-mile Around-Oahu Bike Race, followed by a 26.2-mile run on the Honolulu Marathon course. That first race would set the stage for what IRONMAN triathlon would become: the most-challenging single-day sporting event in the world, and a brand symbolizing the belief that "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE®.” Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship® triathlon has etched its name in history through historic performances, inspiring athletes, and a lifetime of memories that define the sport of triathlon today. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the rugged lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots of any sporting event in the world. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group is the world’s largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS®, premier running events including the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, the UTMB® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai’i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.